Northwest Corridor Project (I-75/I-575) Stakeholder Briefing January 27, 2010 GDOT Project No. CSNHS-0008-00(256) GDOT P.I. No. 0008256 (Formerly Project Nos. NH-75-3(232), NHS-0001-00(00) and NH-575-1(28) GDOT P.I.Nos. 714130, 0001919 and 713640) 1 Agenda Brief Project history Project Changes Since Draft Environmental Impact Statement was Published Recent Relevant Studies Adjustment of DEIS Build Alternatives Environmental Impacts Construction Delivery 2 Brief Project History 3 1
Purpose and Need as Presented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Reduce Congestion Improve Mobility Improve connectivity between regional activity Centers Improve safety Reduce vehicle emissions 4 Project Goals Improve transportation effectiveness on I-75 and I-575 Provide additional transportation choices that increase throughput on I-75 and I-575 Improve quality of life by improving mobility and minimizing environmental impacts Improve transportation equity with equitable distribution of benefits and impacts to all populations Provide cost-effective and affordable transportation improvements 5 Alternatives Considered in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement No-Build HOV/TOL HOV/TOL/TSM HOVTOL/BRT HOV/TOL/Reduced BRT Notes: All Alternatives included a transit component All build alternatives included truck only lanes 6 2
Construction Cost Estimates from the DEIS (2006$) HOV/TOL HOV/TOL/TSM HOV/TOL/BRT HOV/TOL/Reduced BRT $3.52 bil $3.92 bil $4.07 bil $3.80 bil 7 Changes Since DEIS was Published 8 Changed Conditions Since DEIS was Published Public and Agency Comments on the DEIS Updated ARC model (20 counties versus 13 counties) Georgia Legislature passed SB 200 in 2009 creating Planning Director Position at GDOT and the Public Private Partnership Program Economic conditions have resulted in reduced funding availability at GDOT 9 3
Recent Related Studies Since DEIS Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan (ARC 2008) Statewide Truck Lanes Needs Identification Study (GDOT 2008) Studies concluded that truck only lanes will not be affordable and are not recommended Preparation of the Managed Lane System Plan approved by the GDOT Board in December 2009 10 Financial Implications New Starts funding is not expected from Federal Transit Administration for the BRT system Congressional District balancing has affected available funds for the project GDOT budget availability inadequate without additional funding GDOT bond debt service requirements for the build alternatives in the DEIS are not supported by expected toll revenue None of the Alternatives in the DEIS is affordable Investigation of lower cost alternatives 11 Adjustment of DEIS Alternatives 12 4
Managed Lane Systems Typically a multilane facility barrier separated from the general purpose lanes Typically vehicles with three or more occupants, busses, emergency vehicles, transit vehicles, registered vans, registered alternative fuel vehicles and motorcycles operate without a toll Tolling for the use of the system by other vehicles is variable based on congestion No toll booths are required since tolling is electronic 13 Refinement of Alternatives The truck only lanes were eliminated based on cost, related studies and DEIS comments from the trucking industry Mandatory tolling of truck only lanes not supported by the trucking industry BRT stations eliminated along with improvements to MARTA Arts Center Station based on cost and comments from the City of Atlanta Supporting transit park and ride facilities associated with the Northwest Corridor Project eliminated along with BRT stations 14 New Managed Lane Concepts Corridor Segment Segment 1 (I-75 South Section) Concept A Bi-Directional 4 B lanes Segment 2 (I-75 Middle Section) 3 B lanes Segment 3 (I-75 North Section) Segment 4 (I-575 Section) B = bi-directional lane, R = reversible lane, MLI = managed-lane interchange 15 5
Why Reversible Again? Since there is no BRT system the reverse commute is not a significant issue The 13 County ARC Model used in the DEIS did not indicate a favorable peak to off-peak split for reversible operation The 20-County ARC Model indicates a 60:40 split or better Reversible systems can provide benefits in the peak direction for a significantly reduced construction cost 16 New Managed Lane Concepts Corridor Segment Segment 1 (I-75 South Section) Concept A Bi-Directional 4 B lanes Segment 2 (I-75 Middle Section) 3 B lanes Segment 3 (I-75 North Section) Segment 4 (I-575 Section) Concept B1 2-Lane Reversible 2 R lanes s B = bi-directional lane, R = reversible lane, MLI = managed-lane interchange 17 New Managed Lane Concepts Corridor Segment Segment 1 (I-75 South Section) Concept A Bi-Directional 4 B lanes Segment 2 (I-75 Middle Section) 3 B lanes Segment 3 (I-75 North Section) Segment 4 (I-575 Section) Concept B1 2-Lane Reversible 2 R lanes s 2-Lane Reversible Optional Slip Ramps 2 R lanes s 3 slip ramp accesses in each direction B = bi-directional lane, R = reversible lane, MLI = managed-lane interchange 18 6
New Managed Lane Concepts Corridor Segment Segment 1 (I-75 South Section) Concept A Bi-Directional 4 B lanes Segment 2 (I-75 Middle Section) 3 B lanes Segment 3 (I-75 North Section) Segment 4 (I-575 Section) Concept B1 2-Lane Reversible 2 R lanes s 2-Lane Reversible Concept C - Optional Slip Ramps 3-Lane Reversible 2 R lanes s 3 slip ramp accesses in each direction B = bi-directional lane, R = reversible lane, MLI = managed-lane interchange 3 R lanes 2 R lanes 1-2 R lane* * In this concept, two reversible lanes are proposed from I-75 to Big Shanty Road. 19 I-75 Typical Section on Walls Between Delk Road and South Marietta Pkwy 20 I-75 Typical Section on Structure Between Delk Road and South Marietta Pkwy 21 7
I-75 Typical Section Between I-575 and Hickory Grove Road 22 I-575 Typical Section Between I -75 and Sixes Road 23 Measure of Effectiveness 24 8
AM Peak Period Travel Time AM Peak Period No-Build I-75 GP Lanes 60.0 Managed Lanes 0.0 48.3 21.9 I-575 GP Lanes 73.7 Managed Lanes 0.0 59.4 25.7 Note: The travel times are from Hickory Grove Rd to Akers Mill Rd on I-75 and from Sixes Rd to Akers Mill Rd on I-575 25 PM Peak Period Travel Time PM Peak Period No-Build I-75 GP Lanes 73.9 Managed Lanes 0.0 57.1 29.5 I-575 GP Lanes 96.0 Managed Lanes 0.0 72.3 35.5 Note: The travel times are from Akers Mill Rd to Hickory Grove Rd on I-75 and from Akers Mill Rd to Sixes Rd on I-575 26 Environmental Impacts 27 9
Environmental Impacts (DEIS versus Concept B-2) Right of way requirements reduced from 130 acres to less than 15 acres Property Acquisitions reduced from 290 to 12 Reduced noise and vibration Reduced construction impacts Reduced disruption of traffic during construction Reduced time for construction 28 Supplemental Draft EIS Differences between the DEIS Alternatives and the reversible alternatives require a Supplemental DEIS Details of the anticipated impacts on the corridors will be prepared and presented to the agencies and the public 29 Conclusions 30 10
Conclusions Reversible concepts meet significant aspects of the stated Purpose and Need The No-Build option compares poorly to any of the build options Reversible systems are more cost effective than the build alternatives in the DEIS Impacts for all reversible concepts are similar and all have significantly less impacts than those shown in the DEIS 31 Recommendations A reversible system appears to be a viable solution The Preferred Alternative should be consistent with the Managed Lane Systems Plan Complete the EIS as soon as possible 32 Next Steps Agency coordination meetings Prepare the Interchange Justification Report Publish the SDEIS and send out for public/agency reviews Hold Public Hearing to present changes in late Summer 2010 Prepare the FEIS and Record of Decision to complete EIS Project Delivery 33 11
Project Delivery Public Private Partnership projects leverage limited transportation funds by partnering with the private sector GDOT to Publish RFQ in February 2010 Announce Shortlist in May 2010 Request Proposals from Shortlisted Teams in August 2010 Receive Proposals January 2011 Select P3 Team in March 2011 Construction and R/W Acquisition anticipated August 2011 Through July 2014 34 Where to Obtain More Information GDOT Website www.dot.ga.gov Public Private Partnership Program www.georgiap3.com New Project Website www.nwcproject.com Old Project Website www.nwhovbrt.com 35 Questions 36 12